June Favorites

It's not rocket science. It's not even financially lucrative, since no one pays me to tell you what I'm into lately. Actually, no one pays me to tell you anything at all.

Wait, why do I even have a blog?

Regardless, I've put together a little list of things I'm diggin'. Things I want or have used like crazy or have recently discovered and loved.

 

1. This adorable little baby mermaid outfit is adorable. Did I mention it's adorable? It's things like this that make me want to have another tiny little girl. // Etsy 

2. This mug speaks to me on a deep level. // rue21 

3. If a unicorn backpack existed when I was in high school, I would've been a lot cooler than I actually was. // Target 4. This is on my list of things to get for little baby boy. It's edgy without being creepy and it's mostly white, which I'm super into right now. // Etsy 

5. My go-to, all-time favorite body lotion is St. Ives Collagen & Elastin. I have naturally dry skin and that stuff works wonders. However, it's too greasy to use on my face. Finding a face/neck lotion that isn't too greasy, doesn't break me out, and doesn't need multiple layers to last is nearly impossible when you don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on moisturizer. But THIS STUFF. It's incredible. It's not a fancy brand, and it certainly isn't the cutest or prettiest option, but it does everything I want it to do. Plus, the last time I had the opportunity to use a Cetaphil product was when Justin was recovering from lots of burns, so I didn't think their stuff was for regular, non-burned people. I'll keep using it and see how it goes. // Target / Walmart 

6. This seasonal diaper print is so cute I almost died. // Honest 

7. Honest Organic Healing Balm might be able to cure anything. I mean, don't take my word for it. I'd tell you to try it but no one pays me to do that, so try it or don't, whatever. // Honest

8. These will be on my newborn's body on his first trip out of the hospital, you mark my words. // Etsy

[Insert Crying Emoji Here]

The great thing about the baby-birthing industry is that you know your doctor will be there when you need them. The not great thing about the baby-birthing industry is that you aren't your doctor's only patient, and them being there when one of their patients needs them might mean you find yourself making two trips to the city just to find yourself waiting for your doctor to return from birthing someone else's baby.

To be honest, it's not that bad. It's definitely inconvenient, but what might have been truly upsetting with Maya isn't with this baby. With Maya, it felt like months between every appointment! Now, I'd be an obvious mess if it weren't for calendar apps and alerts and reminders. (Seriously, how did anyone parent before smartphones?) Instead of being "awww maaaan", I'm using the free void in my schedule to chill on a couch in the waiting room and write this blog post while Maya isn't in my care. I guess I could've just rescheduled and gotten a built-in excuse to have babysitting again, but that's a lot of work, guys. If I'm gonna get child care, I'd much rather go somewhere other than a doctor appointment.

Speaking of doctor appointments, things are definitely in the home stretch. All signs point to baby, and I am so ready. That's the only thing I'm certain of these days. That, and the fact that I need a full-body massage. The little baby I host might rip out of my body with every stretch. (Do babies flex in utero?) I've had some Braxton-Hicks contractions this week, which is yet another sign of the end. I'm more excited than anything about the labor and delivery, even knowing it's not something you can plan with any real certainty.

That's how I live best, I've learned. Maybe I'm a true Sagittarius after all. I've said you become more yourself as a parent, and that's still true. 

***

I take back everything I said. I came out of my appointment just shy of completely devastated because my beloved doctor is moving! Someone else will be my OB for the last month of my pregnancy, the delivery of my baby boy, and every moment for the rest of my life maybe. Please excuse me while I work through the stages of grief over this very real and difficult loss.

I guess I'll go question everything in life now?

The Princess & the Pee

This article was originally posted on TheBLT, where I'm a guest columnist.

My princess certainly doesn't need anyone to save her—maybe not even me.

If my almost-two-year-old daughter could talk, I think she would've already taught herself to read and write. If she could write, I think she'd be running a blog dedicated to educating the toddlers of the world on the best ways to gain independence. If she could read, I'd be leaving her notes around the house, reminding her that she is, in fact, a toddler, and not the grown-up she seems to believe she is.

This article is truer now than it was when I wrote it almost two months ago. Fortunately for me, I'm about to have another baby. Otherwise, I think I'd be rendered useless in this gig I have as Maya's mom. Are they supposed to grow up this fast? I mean, they say kids grow up quickly. But they don't tell you how quickly babies grow up!

The bottom line is that I'm not even needed anymore, basically. She keeps me around to write her memoirs and drive her everywhere. Maya, if you're reading this, remember me and all the diapers I changed when you're running your own business at six years old.

Read the article in its entirety here.